Chapter 43Tenshaen Garden, Uwajima. j.a.pan-guide.comI
t was late when Zhengqing finallybrought Yin Ting home. They hadn’t gone anywhere else, they just sat in theparking lot starring at each other, giggling and kissing.
Zhengqing was of the mind that a kisswas a very good thing; sweet, pleasant and intimate. When he kissed Yin Ting,she blushed and her eyes twinkled, her lips were soft and supple, and her everyreaction told him that she liked him and she liked his kisses.
It made him feel self-satisfactionand contentment. (Zuben: You haven’t done anything yet)
He was glad that he had spent histhirty-three years, working hard and had had no time to care for himself,otherwise he would be married with children and would never met have her. Hewas thankful for her broken bicycle, although, that day was ratherembarra.s.sing, but it brought into his life the kind angel who gave him a redthread of love. (Zuben: Urgh)
He felt the hand of fate, that redthread was really magical. He was grateful. (Zuben: Celebrate when you getmarried, dear. Even then, celebrate when you make it to fifty years)
But Time was a really repugnantfellow. It was already eleven, and he really needed to get her home, and healso had work tomorrow.
The car drove up to Yin Ting streetentrance, but she could not bear to leave, she said to him,
‘When you get back home, give me acall. Let me know you’ve got home safe,’ (Zuben: I’ve just got a boyfriend. Idon’t want him to die!)
‘Very well,’
‘Before I come to get you tomorrow,I’ll give you a call, so you can let me know beforehand if you’re too busy.Also, you need to take a break between, don’t stare at the computer screen toolong. Drink lots of water, have a good lunch…’ (Zuben: Yada yada yada…)
‘Yes,’ Zhengqing could not help butlaugh.
‘Why are you laughing?’ she askedblushing, but she was still reluctant to go. This was their first date, it feltso short. It was already time to part.
‘Because, you’re not acting like agirlfriend,’
Yin Ting stared at him, ‘Don’t youdare say mother!’ (Zuben: Well…)
‘You’re acting like a wife,’
‘...’ Yin Ting suddenly lostmomentum and her face bloomed red.
‘Your area is really nice, ah.’ He saidchanging the subject.
‘My Mother chose the area, and thestyle of house, and the decor, but she didn’t live long enough to see my Dadbuy it.’
‘I should visit one of these days.Why don’t we take a walk for now?’
Yin Ting laughed and nodded. So hecould not bear to leave either, she thought as she happily led him to the park.
They strolled around the pond androckery, and down a tree lined path. She told him this was here she fedMiao-dada, she’d put out a bowl for the cat which it came to everyday. She ledhim to a small hill, near which, was a small woodland, where she found Miao-dada.
‘I held onto my confidence anddidn’t give up on him.’ She blinked and looked at Zhengqing. It had been likelooking for a boyfriend, she refused to give up. When one relationship did notwork out, she looked to the next, thinking surely she would soon find herhappiness. Sure enough, through lots of twists and turns, she was with someonewho made her happy. (Zuben: Lud!)
She leaned against Zhengqing as helaughed. She wanted to tell him her thoughts, but he bent over and kissed her.
She rose on her tiptoes to hold himcloser as they kissed. How many times they had kissed this evening, she did notremember. She only knew she liked his kisses. He hugged her to him tightly andkissed her deeply. As the night went on, he got more skilled and…bolder.
Zhengqing pulled back a little, asthe two of them were gasping for air. She looked up to eyes and could see thewarmth, and it warmed her too. She said to him,
‘I should tell you that I am veryhealthy and my body is very good. I exercise regularly and have a medicalexamination every year. I will try to be healthy and keep you for a long time. Iknow quite well the toll an ill family member takes on the family. I havelooked after my father, who after all this time, has not let go of my mother’sshadow. I will try hard to be well, and accompany you for a very long time, sothat you won’t be sad.’
Zhengqing was moved and held her tightly inhis arms. He felt his eyes burning with unshed tears. He did not have close family;Xiaoting will be his only one. And he knew that she said she would not make himsad. (Zuben: Please tell me how she can guarantee that?)
‘I think if you are far away fromthe kitchen, this goal is very easy to achieve.’ He said teasing her.
He laughed when she pinched him inretaliation.
‘Please be more serious, yourpersonality was so serious, but you are such a strange old man. But, it doesn’tmatter; I have experience dealing with strange old men such as my father. Youcan feel rest a.s.sured.’ She said.
‘Not serious enough young lady,going by your personality, you’re definitely a mischievous one even when youget old. But don’t worry, I have experience dealing with Miao-dada, therefore,you can feel relieved.’ He replied.
Yin Ying laughed, so they were aninborn pair?
She sighed sadly and muttered, ‘Idon’t want to go home.’
‘Me neither,’ he wanted to kiss heragain.
‘But my family has a strange oldman,’ she said, ‘so I have to go home.’
It’s a pity, but there was nothingthey could do.
So he said, ‘I’ll walk you to doorsof your building.’ Just to be with her a little longer.
‘Alright.’ She said happily.
They strolled as slowly as possibleto her apartment building. At the entrance, he decided to accompany her to theelevators. At the elevators, he still did not let her go but told her he hopedthe day he could come with her to her family home would arrive soon.
Yin Ting got on the elevator, asthe doors closed she looked at Zhengqing, he had a forlorn expression on hisface. She hurriedly stopped the doors, and gave him a quick kiss and ran backinto the lifts. Laughing she said, ‘I’ll tell my Dad, so it can happenquickly.’ (Zuben: Would it? We’ll see…)
The door finally closed andZhengqing watched the LED screen count floors until it stopped. He waited forthe time that Yin Ting would leave the elevator and whispered, ‘Good night,’
❀❀
When he got home, he hugged Miao-dadafor a good while. In his absence, Yin Ting had bought lots of things for thecat. In the cat’s room, there were new cabinets with sets of cat’s clothes,collars, a lead, and various types of snacks and toys. (Zuben: No wonder thecat got fat.)
‘She is going to spoil you,’ hesaid to the cat. But the cat did not pay him any mind; it was more interestedin the snack drawer Zhengqing had opened. He closed it. He was also going to bespoiled by her, he thought.
He lay down on the carpet andthought of Xiaoting’s kisses and his body felt aglow. It all felt like a dream,this was the best Christmas he’s ever had since he’d been born.
Yin Ting arrived home in afloaty self-satisfied haze. Yin Shi was still at his bar. Her father, Yin Guohao,had gone to sleep. Their housekeeper came out to ask her if she wanted to haveanything before she slept. But she shook her head and smiled foolishly as shewent to her room.
In her room, she pulled outZhengqing’s present and placed it on a prominent shelf. She started theslideshow again. As she read, she collapsed onto her bed and covered her facewith her quilt from shyness.
She liked his kisses. His body wasfirm and strong, and his arms around her made her feel peaceful and secure. Hehands were large and warm but he was very gentle. His eyes twinkled brightlyand his looks stirred something within her.
He said he wanted to come and visither home soon.
She giggled, he was so impatient.So loveable.
She wanted to give him a gift,something clever and touching like his photo frame. (Zuben: Would you beviewing any power point presentations?) She must think about it deeply. Shethought about the way he looked at her today, so pa.s.sionate, it made her feelshy.
She was giggling to herself, whenher phone rang. She looked to see it was Zhengqing so she quickly picked up,
‘Are you home?’ she asked
‘Yes, for a while.’
‘How are you?’
‘Very good,’ he’d played with thecat a lot, now he was resting. It wasn’t good to have a fat cat.
‘What are you doing now?’ she asked
He was just lying on his bed, ‘Notdoing anything,’ he said, a bit embarra.s.sed to tell the truth, ‘What are youdoing? Asleep, yet?’ he asked in return.
‘Nothing,’ lying on her bed,missing him already wasn’t something she could say so easily. Not yet. Then sheremembered,
‘I still have your house keys.’
‘I know, I had spare ones at work.’He said smiling. ‘If I had forgotten about them, I would not have been able toenter my house.’
She laughed and said, ‘The keys aremine now.’
‘Xiaoting,’ he called quietly.
‘What is it?’
‘I have never had the experience ofringing my own door bell. Thank you.’ He said, his voice was low and gentle.She was touched.
He’d never rand the door bell ofhis house, because, there had been no one to open the door for him. How lonely.Yin Ting was sad for him.
‘Today made me very happy,’ hesaid.
‘Me too,’ she said, her heart wastouched.
‘I better get some sleep, there’s alot of work tomorrow.’
‘Alright, have a good rest.’
‘You too. See you tomorrowevening.’ He said to confirm that nothing had changed and feel at ease.
‘Yes, see you tomorrow.’
They rang off. Yin Ting was in astrange mood, both happy and down. She wanted to be good to him, no, she wantedto treat him the best and be more to him.
❀❀
The next day, Zhengqing arrived atwork. He seemed to be the topic of conversation for his colleagues especiallythose who were Tingting YuLi 413 followers. Many offered him congratulations.Even his micro-blog was lively with many new users following his page andcongratulating him. (Zuben: Weird people)
Many of those should also be YinTing’s blog followers. Someone made a comment about the deletion of the initialblog post, (Zuben: I’m really not sure about this line. It must be Chineseinternet speak)
Zhengqing frankly said, ‘Thankyou,’
The feeling was very new and fresh,yet wonderful. He felt good. He got himself a cup of coffee and started hiswork day. He took a photo of his coffee and posted it on his blog and shared itwith Tingting Yu Li 413’s circle.
One of colleagues rapidlycommented: ‘Boss, isn’t it too early in the morning to be showing off your love?’
Yin Ting replied quickly: ‘Let meask, can you let my boyfriend peacefully show love on my blog. Sofa! Please!’followed by several sad faces (Zuben: This is nonsensical)
There was a reply: ‘Alright! Theboss has become a human beauty.’ Then he deleted his original message. (Zuben:Why are there so many followers of Tingting YuLi in YongKai? It just seems toimplausible.)
Ying tIng also deleted her replyand wrote: ‘Sofa!!!’ (Zuben: Maybe sometime soon as I translate the 11-19chapters I will figure out what SOFA is)
Zhengqing covered his face and laughed.He’d almost forgotten his sweet girlfriend could be feisty.
She sent him a message: ‘Work hard,take breaks and drink plenty of water and eat lunch.’
The colleague appeared again, hiscomment was a long line of ha-ha-has.
Yin Ting replied: ‘Thank you. Thankyou.’
After a bit, another colleaguecommented: ‘Beauty, did you s.n.a.t.c.h the sofa to pursue our Vice President Qiu?’
Yin Ting replied to a peace handsign and a toothy grin emoticon.
Someone else asked, ‘Is Qiu zongvery serious in love as well?’ (Zuben: They’ve only been dating two weeks ifyou count the long distance thing at the beginning.)
Yin Ting replied: ‘I’m nottelling.’
Zhengqing thought if he did notwade in, the situation would become chaotic, so he replied to his nosycolleagues,
‘It seems that we are idle. Pleasebring me the reports from the last two weeks.’
The comment section finally becamequiet.
Yin Ting left a smiling tongue outemoticon and ran away. Other people came online to tease them. Zhengqing loggedoff the micro-blog and dived into work.
(Zuben: If I had been reading thischapter, I totally would have skipped this. So dull and cheesy. Why are his colleaguesher micro-blog followers?!)
At noon, Yin Ting called himtelling him to have lunch and take a break. He reported his doings for the day,Yin Ting was satisfied. Chouzhengqing laughed and asked her what she ate. Sheinformed him that she was having lunch at home. Though her dad was now in goodhealth, she still went home to eat and have a nap. They talked for a bit morethen Ying Ting said she was off to eat and rang off.
The housekeeper was setting thetable, her father Guohao, was sitting at the head of the table watching hisdaughter smile sweetly at her phone. When the housekeeper came back with aserving of food, Yin Ting said, ‘Aunty Chen, tomorrow I will learn how to cookfrom you. I’ll give you the recipe, please help me buy the ingredients.’
The older woman smiled and agreed,and returned to the kitchen.
Her father watched her quietly asshe served him some rice,
‘Dad,’ she began, ‘I have a boyfriend.This time it is real. You’ve met him before, Qiu Zhengqing who works at YongKai.You met him at the cemetery last Mid Autumn festival. Do you remember?’
‘Hmm.’ Guohao replied neitherwarmly or coldly as he began to eat.
‘He doesn’t have any family and he’sthe only one at home. I want to learn how to cook, so I can make tasty dishes.You and Ge-ge can’t laugh at me oh. Otherwise, I won’t maintain my enthusiasm forlearning.’
‘Do you have to do it?’ Guohaoasked, ‘Is he looking for a girlfriend or a cook?’
‘That I have no skill in this isnot good.’ At home, she would like to help Aunty Chen, but she didn’t because,it felt like she want invading Aunty Chen’s domain in the kitchen, and she didn’twant to do anything wrong, ‘This is something I want to do, he hasn’t asked me.It’s not about being a housewife.’
Guohao remained silent.
‘When can you meet him, ah?’ sheasked.
Guohao ate a bit and then replied, ‘Youhaven’t been dating for long. Right now, you think everything is great, whenyou’ve both calmed down, stabilised and are seeing clearly, you can come andtalk to me.’ (Zuben: Thumbs up for daddykins.)
Yin Ting pouted and helped her fatherdish out more vegetables, ‘You always eat meat and rice, and so littlevegetables. How long will it take to consider us stable?’
‘You will know when the time comes.’
Yin Ting thought that now was verygood, but since her father said so, she had to comply. They really had onlyjust started; she didn’t need to worry about it.
At five PM, TingTing calledZhengqing to ask how things were progressing. And what time will he be leavingwork? He glanced at his desk covered in doc.u.ments, ‘There is a small meeting so…seven.’He could leave just before seven, ‘You get some evening tea to pad your bellyfirst.’
‘Alright,’ she said and hung up.
Near six, she called again, ‘How isit going? Do you think you will be done by seven?’
‘Well…possibly,’ he said, just thenanother doc.u.ment was handed to him. He frowned; he had to deal with that.
‘I won’t come and pick you up. Ibought us dinner and I will take it to your place and wait for you with Dada.When you finish, come home. So it won’t be too tiring.’
‘Good. Thanks. See you soon.’ He saidslightly relieved.
At seven-twenty four, Zhengqingcalled Yin Ting and told her he was leaving work and heading home. She told himshe was waiting.
Waiting for him at home, ah. What awonderful feeling. (Zuben: How long till it becomes pressure?)
Half an hour later, Zhengqing stoodbefore his home. Though he had a door key, he still pressed the bell.
The door opened and Yin Ting greetedhim with a sweet smile, ‘You’re back!’ she cried. His fat cat also came over topurr at his feet.
This felt so good, he thought as heopened his arms and Yin Ting clung to him.
‘From now, how about if there is notime to go out, I buy dinner and wait for you here?’ She asked him.
Zhengqing pulled back slightly andlooked at her eyes.
‘I like opening the door for you,’ shesaid (Zuben: For how long?)
Zhengqing was speechless and pulledher into a tight hug.
Someone was there to open the door.Someone was home waiting for him.
Zuben: Dear readers, you must thinkI must be some kind of grumpy pants with my oft derisive comments: I am. SinceI am not reading ahead, I am reacting as I would if someone told me about thiscouple. I can’t decide if their insta-dependence is a plan by the author forthe story ahead or if this is what she wants their love to be like. Anyway,we’ll find out as we go along.
This was a boring chapter for me.So much pointless minutiae. I especially disliked the micro-blog part. Urgh.
❀ Chapter 44